Kāpiti coastal walks brochure launched at boating club
was launched at an event at the Kā piti Boating Club.
This current edition of 18 of our classic walks will inspire more people to visit our district for our walks and rides, and encourage Kā piti Coast locals to explore new trails. The booklet was a joint project between the council’s parks and economic development teams, recognising both the recreation and tourism value of the trails.
Trails also provide connections — they connect place to place, they connect people to the whenua and give access to many significant places, and they enable connections between people. Connecting to nature via trails improves mental and physical wellbeing.
At the event, the many advocates and volunteers who contributed to the creation of trails in the district were recognised, including the visionaries who first thought a walk on the escarpment in Paekā kā riki might be possible — the Escarpment Walk is now one of the coast’s most popular destinations. Local legend Leon Kiel was particularly remembered for his early vision and dedication to the development of the district’s shared pathways.
Walkers, bikers and riders support our accommodation and hospitality sectors, providing an economic boost through visitor spending, and provide opportunities to tell the stories of our history and significant places. They also facilitate pest control and environmental restoration.
The booklet presents an excellent selection of walking tracks in the district, and I encourage everyone to get amongst it this summer and enjoy some of these wonderful walks and rides.
On another note, as we come to the end of a hard-fought general election, I’d like to extend my congratulations to successful candidates Barbara Edmonds and Tim Costley who will represent our district in Parliament as our local MPs next term. I look forward to working with both of them as we address our common issues and make the most of the opportunities over the coming years.
Huge thanks to all the candidates who took the time and made the significant commitment to stand for election, providing us with a wide range of options and policies. I’d also like to express my gratitude to Terisa Ngobi for her advocacy and service over the past three years.